death incarnate & night triumphant

The last beat of her heart still echoes in his mind, as if her dying breath were stuck on replay. He wouldn't forget it... couldn't forget it. Still, Andras cradles Lani in his arms, bringing her bloody body to his chest as he buries his face in her hair. Her scent was fading, soon to be replaced with that of death, something he wouldn't allow. Shifting slightly, he stares at Troy, his voice hoarse as he explains he's going to change her and when the man responds, there was perhaps a touch of relief within Andras's mind, though he was far too exhausted to share that with his court member. Nodding at Troy, he turns back to Lani. She was strong enough, she had to be strong enough to complete this transformation. Gathering Lani close to his heart once more, he lifts her light body and moves back to that table before gently laying her down. Pushing her blonde locks from her face, he leans down to plant another kiss on her forehead. Taking a step away, his massive wings brush the floor in exhaustion, Andras barely having the energy to keep them high enough so he wouldn't trip on the leathery appendages.

Turning to Troy, "Thank you, Troy," he murmurs, sadness and gratitude moving through those dark hazel eyes, "It's been a long time since I've been apart of a changing," he says more to himself than his friend as his gaze turns back to his mate on the table. And truly, it had been centuries since he had been apart of something like this, Andras never doing the changing though his father demanded he accompany him to all of the rituals. It had allows left a sour taste in his mouth, most of the humans being changed died in the process. Yet, he pushes those thoughts away, Lani would make it, his fiery, blushing, incredible mate would survive, he could still feel her life essence within her, as if she were holding on. Allowing his eyes to close, he burrows deep within that well of power, searching for that mating bond and giving a tug on it, letting Lani know that he was coming for her. Reaching out a hand, he places it over her heart, allowing his power to seep into her, that darkness gentle as it pulses around the pair of them.

Andras knew he would be bound to her forever and that was something he didn't mind, even if she hated him for what he had done at least she would be alive. He continues that process before his lips part and he chants, mumbling quietly over Lani's body. The Fae isn't sure how long it goes on for, though, sweat coats his body, his torso slick with it. Still, he pours that power into her, his chanting continuing and as if the entire world shifted, he hears that faint beat of her heart. His whole body shudders at the sound, tears threatening to spill from his eyes once more but he pushes them back, continuing until his legs are nearly ready to give out. Opening his hazel eyes, he watches her body transform, her pale skin taking on that immortality hue, the tips of her ears gently shifting into delicate points, her entire body taking on that otherworldly grace. Once it is finish, his darkness falls away, Andras's hand coming to support himself on the table, his other reaching up to gently stroke her cheek.

"Lani," he murmurs quietly, though he's quite certain she's lost to that sleep for awhile. She was alive. She had completed the transformation. The lord would deal with the consequences later, for now, he basked in her scent, the sound of her beating heart. Turning away, he staggers down the steps, his legs almost giving out but he flares his wings slightly to catch himself. Pausing, he moves over to Troy, lifting a hand and placing it on his shoulder. "Thank you, Troy," he croaks out tiredly, his hazel eyes alight, "I don't know what I would've done today without you. I... I would've destroyed this world if Lani hadn't made it," he says, eyes darkening once more at the thought of those two faeries, "I plan on finding whoever was behind this," he promises, his eyes taking on a faraway look. "I didn't recognize either of them but they knew me, knew who I was and knew that Lani was my weakness," his lightly accented words growling as he straightens his shoulders. Dropping his hand to his side then, he pushes away that killing calm with some force, "For now, I'm going to take Lani back to Somnia so she can... adjust," he winces at the word, Andras hardly had any idea what the woman would do when she woke up, he simply knew she needed to be somewhere safe, somewhere far away from humans so she wouldn't lose control.

Glancing over his shoulder, he watches the gentle rise and fall of her chest, his gaze worried, as if she would slip away from him again. "I need to get her back there before she wakes up," he says before glancing back at Troy, "Thank you again, brother," he nods his head, his hand stretching out to grasp Troy's. "I am in your debt, anything I can do for you and Amelia and the baby, please, let me know," he states before turning away and moving back to Lani. Gathering her newfound body in his arms, he pulls her to his chest before he makes the ascent up the stairs for the long journey home. He was taking her home.

Andras Steinhello darling